Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-15


huge carpet slippers, and, as he reached
down TO put it on again, he added calmly:
''And 81 TO yer marrying her it amt to be
done"
The utterly bewildered expression which
TRANSPORTED dc Ferrieres' face at this an
nouncenent was unobserved by Nett's
averted eyes, nor did he perceive that his
listener the next moment Strengthened his
erect figure and adjusted his cravat.
"Ef Rosey,' he continued, ''hez read in
vy'ges and tracks in Eyetalian aud French
countries Of such chaps ez you and kalki-
lates you're the right kind to tie to, meb-
bee it mout hev done IL you'd been livin'
over thar in pallis, but somehow it don't
jlbe in over here and agree with ship
and that ship lying conf able ashore in
San Francisco. You don't seem to suit
the climate, you see, and your general
gait Is likely to stampede the other cattle.
Agin, said Mott, with an ostentation Of
looking 10 his companion, but really gaz-
iag on vacancy, this fixed up antique
style q yours goes better with them ivy
kiyered ruins in Rome and Palmyry that
Rosey's mixed you up with, than it would
yere / amt saying" he added Is de
Ferrieres was about to speak, II amt say
IN ez that child amt smitten with ye. 1t
amt no Use to lie and say she don't prefer
you 10 her old father, or young chaps Of
her own age and kind. I've seed it afor
now. / suspicioned it afor | seed her slip
out o this place tonight. Thar keep
your hair on, such eZ it isp' he added as
de Ferrieres attempted quick deprecatory
gesture II amt askin yer how often she
comes here, nor what she SEE to you nor
you TO her. / amt asked her, and | don't
ask you. III allow ez you've settled all
the prelminares and bought her the ring
and SIGH; I'm only askin' you now, kalh-
latin you've got all the keerds in your
own hand, what you'll take to step out
and leave the board"'
The dazed look OF de Ferrieres might
have forced itself even upon MOTIFS one
ldead fatuity, had it not been a part OF
that gentleman's system delicately to look
another way at that moment so az not to
cmbarrass his adyersarys calculation.
Pardon" stammered de Ferrieres, ''but
| do not comprehendr' He raised his
hand to his head 81 am not WE'LL am
stupid All, mon Dieup'
81 amt sayin'," added Mott more
gently, "ez you don't feel bad. It's
natral. But it amt business I'm ask
ing you" he continued, taking from his
breast pocket a large wallet, show much
you'll take in cash now, and the rest next
steamer day, to give up Rosey and leave
the ship"
De Ferrieres staggered to his feet de-
spite Motifs restraining hand. ''To leave
mademoselle and leave the ship" he said
huskily, sis it not?''
"In course. Yer can leave things yer
just ez you found 'em when you came,
you know" continued Mott for the first
time looking around the miserable apart
ment IT'S business job. III take the
bales back ag'in, and you kin reckon up
what you're out, countin' Rosey and loss
o. time"
ole wishes me to go-he has said, " re-
peated de Fcrrieres to himself thickly.
OFF you mean me when you say him,
and ez there amt any other man around,
reckon you do-'yesn
"And he asks me-he-this man OF the
feet and the daughter-asks me-de Fer
rieres-what | will take, continued de
Ferrieres, buttoning his coat. mol it is
dream" He walked stiffly to the cor
ner where his portmanteau lay, lifted it,
and going to the outer door, a cut through
the ships side that communicated with
the alley, unlocked it and flung it open to
the night. A thick mist like the breath
Of the ocean flowed into the room.
"You ask me what shall take to 60"
he said as he stood on the threshold II
shall take what you cannot give, mon
sieur, but what | would not keep if
stood here another moment. take my
honor, monsieur, and-I take my leaver'
For moment his grotesque figure was
outlined in the opening, and then disap-
peared rs if he had dropped into an invis-
ible ocean below. Stupefied and discon-
certed Mt this complete success of his over
lures, Ahuer Mott remained speeches.,
gazing at the vacant space until cold in
tlux of the mist recalled him Then he
rose and shutIled quickly to the door.
"llil Ferrers! Look yer-sayi Wot's
your hurry, pardnert'
But there was no response. The thick
mist which hid the surrounding objects,
seemed TO deaden all sound also. After n
moments pause he closed the door, but
did not lock It, and retreating to the CEN
ter of the room remained blinking at the
two candles and plucking some perplexing
problem from his beard. Suddenly an
idea seized him. Roseyi Where was she1
Perhaps it had been a preconcerted plan
and she had fled with him. Putting out
the lights he stumbled hurredly through
the passage to the gangway above. The
cabin door was open; there was the sound
OF voices-Renshaw' and Rosey's. Mr..
Mott felt relieved but not unembarrassed.
He would have avoided his daughters
presence that evening But even while
making this resolution with characteristic
infelicity he Numbered into the room.
Rosey looked mp with a slight start Rem
shaw's animated face was changed to its
former expression of inward discomfort.
"You came in so like ghost, father"
said Rosey with slight pcevishness that
was new to her. And l thought you
NtIe III tpNi. itbh ~. MI. IttlisHhM
But Mr.. Renshaw intimated that he
had already trespassed upon Miss Motifs
time, and that no doubt her father want
ed to talk with her. To his surprise and
annoyance however, Mr.. Mott insisted on
accompanying him to his room, and with
out needing Renshaw's cold GOOD
night entered and closed the door be-
hind him.
"P'raps, - said Mr.. Mott with a troubled
air, ''you disremember that when you
first KEN here you asked me If you could
hev that 'er loft that the Frenchman had
down stairs"
"No, don't remember it," said Rem
shaw, almost rudely. But" he added,
after pause, with the air of man
obliged TO revive stale and unpleasant
memovy, III did-what about iti''
"Nuthin'. only that you kin hev it to-
morrow, ~ that ere Frenchman is movin'
OUT responded Mott. Il thought you
was sorter keen about 1t when you first
KEN"